Russian Air Force News & Discussion

wsb05

Member
Pilots were having difficulties transferring from Mi-24P straight to Mi-28N, so the Mi-35M is used to ease the transition. You'll notice it's being deployed in small numbers to the same airbases that the Mi-28Ns.
Thank you! I am a new member here.
So it is sort of a trainer for new avionics and sensors?

Why is the RuA purchasing export model Mi-35M? Do they plan to resell them in the future?
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
Thank you! I am a new member here.
So it is sort of a trainer for new avionics and sensors?

Why is the RuA purchasing export model Mi-35M? Do they plan to resell them in the future?
More like a transition model that has the advanced sensors and weaponry similar to the Mi-28N, but with the familiar Hind set up. Reselling them would make a lot of sense, once transitioning is no longer such a big issue (and of course it would make a lot more sense to keep Mi-35Ms at Torzhok, and do all the training there instead of deploying them to actual airbases).

In fact it would make so much sense, that I doubt it'll happen.
 

wsb05

Member
More like a transition model that has the advanced sensors and weaponry similar to the Mi-28N, but with the familiar Hind set up. Reselling them would make a lot of sense, once transitioning is no longer such a big issue (and of course it would make a lot more sense to keep Mi-35Ms at Torzhok, and do all the training there instead of deploying them to actual airbases).

In fact it would make so much sense, that I doubt it'll happen.
NOT a lot of faith in Russ MoD decisions I see...

On another note. What the hell happened to the ground effect airplanes missile carriers? Why did the Russians loose faith in them?
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
NOT a lot of faith in Russ MoD decisions I see...

On another note. What the hell happened to the ground effect airplanes missile carriers? Why did the Russians loose faith in them?
They didn't. They lost money for ambitious projects without a clear role in the current armed forces.

They do still have faith. In ambitious projects. Without a clear role in the current armed forces. :)
 

wsb05

Member
They didn't. They lost money for ambitious projects without a clear role in the current armed forces.

They do still have faith. In ambitious projects. Without a clear role in the current armed forces. :)
Throw in some stealth and supplement TU 22 in carrier killer role. Can't modern naval radars spot low flying aircrafts?
Or make larger ships and use for relatively cheap but fast transport of cargo.
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
Throw in some stealth and supplement TU 22 in carrier killer role. Can't modern naval radars spot low flying aircrafts?
Or make larger ships and use for relatively cheap but fast transport of cargo.
Whose carriers are they going to kill? Transport cargo where?

And also, the key problem is still... money. For the first time since the collapse of the USSR, the Russian military has a decent-sized defense budget. And the MoD has had to make realistic plans (as opposed to utopian ones). This is why a lot of extremely ambitious projects have been cut or reduced.

There are plans for developing further ground-effect vehicles in Russia, and there is a low-rate production facility that makes small ground-effect vehicles. There was even a plan to develop a variant for the border troops, but I don't know if that went anywhere.

Also, Baltic Fleet Fencers performed their first mid-air refueling exercise in the last 18 years.

http://www.sdelanounas.ru/blogs/26860/

That would be a good place to deploy the Su-30SM. It could replace Fencers and Flankers in Baltic AVMF.

Also the Kann airbase is now completely re-equipped with MiG-31BM.

http://www.sdelanounas.ru/blogs/27096/

What this means in practice I'm not sure.
 

Haavarla

Active Member
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #907
Happy new year all :)

Some little news from NAPO:

Moscow - The Novosibirsk aircraft plant of the Sukhoi Holding (NAPO) will increase the output of Sukhoi Su-34 multirole bombers in 2013, a source in the defense sector told Interfax-AVN on Saturday.

"In 2013 the Su-34 production at NAPO will be larger than in 2012," the source said.

"While setting off batch production of Su-34, NAPO is constantly enlarging their output," he said.

NAPO made two Su-34 aircraft in 2009, four in 2010, six in 2011 and ten in 2012, the source said.

NAPO is executing two state contracts: one to make 32 aircraft before 2013 and the other to make 92 aircraft before 2020. "The total order is 124 aircraft," the source said.

"The introduction of new cost saving technologies and equipment, the so-called smart manufacturing, is a token of a larger output of Su-34," he noted.
 

Akula540

New Member
The Su-30SM does indeed have Bars. The PAK-FA will have Zhuk-AE.
T-50 does not have and will not have Zhuk-AE, which is an export version in any case and isn't even from the right producer. N050 is the prospective T-50 radar and it is from Tikhomirov whereas Zhuk-AE is from Phazotron and Zhuk-A is meant for MiG-35.

More like a transition model that has the advanced sensors and weaponry similar to the Mi-28N, but with the familiar Hind set up. Reselling them would make a lot of sense, once transitioning is no longer such a big issue (and of course it would make a lot more sense to keep Mi-35Ms at Torzhok, and do all the training there instead of deploying them to actual airbases).
Mi-35s are useful for special operations as they can carry some troops, are well protected(comparing to transports) and can provide close air support. VDV used them already in Afghanistan and there is still clearly room for them in Russian air assault formations.
 

wsb05

Member
Mi-35s are useful for special operations as they can carry some troops, are well protected(comparing to transports) and can provide close air support. VDV used them already in Afghanistan and there is still clearly room for them in Russian air assault formations.
How can Mi-35 use its fire support capabilities while landing or dropping units? It is a Heli not an AIFV.
It will be a sitting duck and other helis will have to do this job.

Dedicated platforms would be the best solution.
 

Haavarla

Active Member
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #910
That is not a major problem.

One might fancy Su-25 or Su-34 support too, as with any Mi-28N or Ka-52, but whats the point.. In most realistic conflicts, Helis such as Mi-35M is quite capable to handle their own.

If they land in a "hotzone", they tend to blow stuff up just to be sure to clear out the LZ.
Then its no problem landing, also they can overlap each other.

Whom would pose such a threat to a Sq of Mi-35M?
The person may get the chance to squeese off a Manpad or RPG, but what then..
Its eighter Allah Ackbar or he must be able to run very fast.

I served in the military. I for one would not lift a finger against incoming Mi-35M's. I would Rather wait for the Helis to leave..
 
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wsb05

Member
That is not a major problem.

One might fancy Su-25 or Su-34 support too, as with any Mi-28N or Ka-52, but whats the point.. In most realistic conflicts, Helis such as Mi-35M is quite capable to handle their own.

If they land in a "hotzone", they tend to blow stuff up just to be sure to clear out the LZ.
Then its no problem landing, also they can overlap each other.

Whom would pose such a threat to a Sq of Mi-35M?
The person may get the chance to squeese off a Manpad or RPG, but what then..
Its eighter Allah Ackbar or he must be able to run very fast.

I served in the military. I for one would not lift a finger against incoming Mi-35M's. I would Rather wait for the Helis to leave..
sitting in the cargo bay of a maneuvering attack heli is not too pleasant! plus again i repeat my previous post.
I am not convinced in combined transport/ attack heli role. Dunno what russian MoD is thinking though.
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
Mi-35s are useful for special operations as they can carry some troops, are well protected(comparing to transports) and can provide close air support. VDV used them already in Afghanistan and there is still clearly room for them in Russian air assault formations.
I agree with your rationale, but the stated reason for their procurement (and a believable one) is that they're needed for a smoother transition to the more advanced Mi-28N.

Personally I think they should have chosen one next-gen attack helo amongst the Mi-35M, Ka-52, and Mi-28N.
 

wsb05

Member
Personally I think they should have chosen one next-gen attack helo amongst the Mi-35M, Ka-52, and Mi-28N.
Same for all the Su- aircrafts... funny the army is looking to unify the platforms while the much more expensive to aircrafts are using multiple platforms.

What happened to the top mounted radar on Mi-28N. Why isn't it seen on recently fielded helis?
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
Same for all the Su- aircrafts... funny the army is looking to unify the platforms while the much more expensive to aircrafts are using multiple platforms.

What happened to the top mounted radar on Mi-28N. Why isn't it seen on recently fielded helis?
It never went into serial production. It just wasn't ready. None of the VVS aircraft carry it (save maybe 1-2 experimental ones, but those should be owned by Rosvertol). It'll be part of the Mi-28NM package.
 

wsb05

Member
It never went into serial production. It just wasn't ready. None of the VVS aircraft carry it (save maybe 1-2 experimental ones, but those should be owned by Rosvertol). It'll be part of the Mi-28NM package.
when will that happen? along with the 2500 engines or we are looking at a longer timeframe?
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
when will that happen? along with the 2500 engines or we are looking at a longer timeframe?
Honestly, I have no idea. It remains to be seen what exactly it will even look like.

EDIT: Israeli UAV trials in Russia have begun. They're testing Searchers and Bird Eyes in winter conditions. The Russian names for them are Forpost and Zastava, respectively. The temperature on the ground was -30, at the altitudes they were tested at as low as -50. So far it seems the trials are going successfully.

http://bmpd.livejournal.com/428625.html
http://www.arms-expo.ru/049057054050124051048049053053.html
http://arms-tass.su/?page=article&aid=113995&cid=25
 
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Haavarla

Active Member
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #917
KnAAPO plans to deliver 12 Su-35S in 2013.

Lenta.ru:

Not whole lot, but i think KnAAPO are thinking long term deliveries, no doubt it will increase further in 2014,
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
Meanwhile the VVS are requesting a resumption of the Il-112 program. In other words experience from experimental exploitation of the An-140 has been thoroughly negative.

Lenta.ru:

For a while it looked like the An-140T would be the new light transport, light passenger plane, and possibly even an EW/ELINT carrier (replacing the Il-20s). Now this might not be the case.
 

alexkvaskov

New Member
Meanwhile the VVS are requesting a resumption of the Il-112 program. In other words experience from experimental exploitation of the An-140 has been thoroughly negative.

Lenta.ru:

For a while it looked like the An-140T would be the new light transport, light passenger plane, and possibly even an EW/ELINT carrier (replacing the Il-20s). Now this might not be the case.
Would it make more sense to redesign/improve the An-140 instead of resuming R&D of an entirely different aircraft, nevermind production..
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
Would it make more sense to redesign/improve the An-140 instead of resuming R&D of an entirely different aircraft, nevermind production..
It would make a lot of sense. Especially given that An-140 orders are practically guaranteed by the state procurement plan for civilian aircraft, by other organs of the federal government (FSB, MVD, MChS, Roskosmos). The fact that they're choosing not to do it means they think something is very very wrong with the An-140.

Hell, the MoD already funded a research program OKR Syemschik which involved installing the Open Skies gear and equipment on the An-140, as well as other recon gear.
 
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